diff --git a/piker/clearing/_ems.py b/piker/clearing/_ems.py
index b847333a..01cc25a2 100644
--- a/piker/clearing/_ems.py
+++ b/piker/clearing/_ems.py
@@ -501,14 +501,9 @@ async def open_brokerd_trades_dialogue(
 
                 task_status.started(relay)
 
-                await translate_and_relay_brokerd_events(
-                    broker,
-                    brokerd_trades_stream,
-                    _router,
-                )
-
                 # this context should block here indefinitely until
                 # the ``brokerd`` task either dies or is cancelled
+                await trio.sleep_forever()
 
         finally:
             # parent context must have been closed
@@ -567,8 +562,8 @@ async def translate_and_relay_brokerd_events(
         {'presubmitted', 'submitted', 'cancelled', 'inactive'}
 
     '''
-    book = router.get_dark_book(broker)
-    relay = router.relays[broker]
+    book: _DarkBook = router.get_dark_book(broker)
+    relay: TradesRelay = router.relays[broker]
 
     assert relay.brokerd_dialogue == brokerd_trades_stream
 
@@ -731,14 +726,16 @@ async def translate_and_relay_brokerd_events(
 
                 if status == 'submitted':
                     msg = BrokerdStatus(**brokerd_msg)
-                    log.info('Relaying existing open order:\n {brokerd_msg}')
+                    log.info(
+                        f'Relaying existing open order:\n {brokerd_msg}'
+                    )
 
                     # use backend request id as our ems id though this
                     # may end up with collisions?
                     broker = details['name']
-                    # oid = f'{broker}-{reqid}'
-                    oid = reqid
+                    oid = str(reqid)
                     book._ems_entries[oid] = msg
+
                     # attempt to avoid collisions
                     msg.reqid = oid
                     resp = 'broker_submitted'
@@ -848,7 +845,9 @@ async def process_client_order_cmds(
     async for cmd in client_order_stream:
         log.info(f'Received order cmd:\n{pformat(cmd)}')
 
-        oid = cmd['oid']
+        # CAWT DAMN we need struct support!
+        oid = str(cmd['oid'])
+
         # register this stream as an active dialogue for this order id
         # such that translated message from the brokerd backend can be
         # routed (relayed) to **just** that client stream (and in theory
@@ -892,24 +891,24 @@ async def process_client_order_cmds(
                 'action': 'cancel',
                 'oid': oid,
             } if not live_entry:
-                try:
-                    # remove from dark book clearing
-                    dark_book.orders[symbol].pop(oid, None)
+                # try:
+                # remove from dark book clearing
+                dark_book.orders[symbol].pop(oid, None)
 
-                    # tell client side that we've cancelled the
-                    # dark-trigger order
-                    await client_order_stream.send(
-                        Status(
-                            resp='dark_cancelled',
-                            oid=oid,
-                            time_ns=time.time_ns(),
-                        )
+                # tell client side that we've cancelled the
+                # dark-trigger order
+                await client_order_stream.send(
+                    Status(
+                        resp='dark_cancelled',
+                        oid=oid,
+                        time_ns=time.time_ns(),
                     )
-                    # de-register this client dialogue
-                    router.dialogues.pop(oid)
+                )
+                # de-register this client dialogue
+                router.dialogues.pop(oid)
 
-                except KeyError:
-                    log.exception(f'No dark order for {symbol}?')
+                # except KeyError:
+                #     log.exception(f'No dark order for {symbol}?')
 
             # live order submission
             case {
@@ -932,8 +931,11 @@ async def process_client_order_cmds(
                 sym = fqsn.replace(f'.{broker}', '')
 
                 if live_entry is not None:
-                    # sanity check on emsd id
-                    assert live_entry.oid == oid
+                    # sanity check on emsd id, but it won't work
+                    # for pre-existing orders that we load since
+                    # the only msg will be a ``BrokerdStatus``
+                    # assert live_entry.oid == oid
+
                     reqid = live_entry.reqid
                     # if we already had a broker order id then
                     # this is likely an order update commmand.
@@ -1118,10 +1120,9 @@ async def _emsd_main(
     ):
 
         # XXX: this should be initial price quote from target provider
-        first_quote = feed.first_quotes[fqsn]
-
-        book = _router.get_dark_book(broker)
-        book.lasts[fqsn] = first_quote['last']
+        first_quote: dict = feed.first_quotes[fqsn]
+        book: _DarkBook = _router.get_dark_book(broker)
+        book.lasts[fqsn]: float = first_quote['last']
 
         # open a stream with the brokerd backend for order
         # flow dialogue
@@ -1148,12 +1149,25 @@ async def _emsd_main(
             await ems_ctx.started((
                 relay.positions,
                 list(relay.accounts),
+                book._ems_entries,
             ))
 
             # establish 2-way stream with requesting order-client and
             # begin handling inbound order requests and updates
             async with ems_ctx.open_stream() as ems_client_order_stream:
 
+                # register the client side before startingn the
+                # brokerd-side relay task to ensure the client is
+                # delivered all exisiting open orders on startup.
+                _router.clients.add(ems_client_order_stream)
+
+                n.start_soon(
+                    translate_and_relay_brokerd_events,
+                    broker,
+                    brokerd_stream,
+                    _router,
+                )
+
                 # trigger scan and exec loop
                 n.start_soon(
                     clear_dark_triggers,
@@ -1168,7 +1182,6 @@ async def _emsd_main(
 
                 # start inbound (from attached client) order request processing
                 try:
-                    _router.clients.add(ems_client_order_stream)
 
                     # main entrypoint, run here until cancelled.
                     await process_client_order_cmds(